Yoga as an Adjunctive Treatment for Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Female Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence
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Authors
Cowley, Lauren
Issue Date
2023-09-29
Type
Capstone
Language
en
Keywords
intimate partner violence , complex trauma , complex posttraumatic stress disorder , trauma-sensitive yoga , yoga as an adjunctive therapy
Alternative Title
Abstract
Complex posttraumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) is a debilitating condition, exhibiting complex trauma symptoms frequently observed in survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). Traditional treatment approaches have limitations in holistically addressing the multifaceted challenges of C-PTSD and IPV-related trauma. This narrative literature review aims to evaluate the existing evidence supporting the use of yoga as an adjunctive therapy in treating complex trauma and female IPV survivors. A comprehensive search was conducted across 11 electronic databases yielding randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials, qualitative studies, meta-analyses and statistical reviews, and case studies. Included studies examined the impact of yoga on psychological measures, including assessing PTSD and C-PTSD, as well as participant-reported growth and healing themes. The review reveals that trauma-based yoga interventions, particularly trauma-sensitive yoga (TSY), demonstrate promise in improving mental, emotional, and physiological outcomes, including growth beyond symptom reduction. The findings suggest the need for a larger quantity of higher quality empirical research to validate the long-term effectiveness of yoga as an adjunctive treatment for C-PTSD in IPV survivors across a variety of demographics. Implications for clinical practice and future research directions are discussed.